This is an application for amnesty in terms of the provisions of Section 18 of the Promotion of National Unity and Reconciliation Act No. 34 of 1995 ("the Act"). The matter arises from the abortive military coup in Bophuthatswana on 10 February 1988 with the objective of overthrowing the government of Lucas Mangope. The relevant circumstances relating to the incident had been fully canvassed in the amnesty application of Malebana-Metsing AM7674/97.
The latter was the leader of the Security Forces involved in the coup. Pursuant to the incident, Applicant was convicted of High Treason and sentenced to 10 years imprisonment on 18 December 1989 in the Bophuthatswana Supreme Court.
Having considered the matter, we are satisfied that the incident constitutes an act associated with a political objective as envisaged in the Act and that the application complies with all of the requirements of the Act. Amnesty is accordingly hereby GRANTED to the Applicant in respect of the offence of high treason which arose from the abortive military coup in Bophuthatswana on 10 February 1988.